Trade Relations of V4 Countries
- Credits: 3
- Ending: Examination
- Range: 2C
- Semester: summer
- Year: 2
- Faculty of Commerce
Teachers
Included in study programs
Teaching results
Students will possess following abilities:
- On the Evaluation of Business Environment Quality in V4 Countries,
- On the Territorial and Commodity Structure of Foreign Trade in V4 Countries,
- On the Structure of Foreign Direct Investments in V4 Countries (Inflows and Outflows),
- On Selected Economic Sectors of V4 Countries (Energy, Automotive Industry),
- On the Establishment of the V4 and the History of Mutual Cooperation,
- On the Position of V4 Countries Within the EU.
Students will obtain following skills:
- use publicly available databases about foreign trade of the V4 countries and identify potential for foreign trade (export, import) in these countries,
- assess the quality of the business environment of the V4 countries according to various criteria,
- evaluate the attractiveness of the investment environment of the V4 countries.
Students will gain following competences:
- Critical evaluation, synthesis of theoretical knowledge, and interpretation of analytical outputs,
- Assess the suitability of the business environment for foreign expansion,
- Navigate economic information about territories and extract key information essential for
foreign expansion.
Indicative content
The course focuses on foreign trade relations among V4 countries as a specific form of cooperation within the European Union, the business environment in these countries as a key factor determining foreign trade, and the analysis of the foreign trade of individual states.
Support literature
1. SKRZYPEKAnia, SKÓRA Maria. The Future of the Visegrad Group. Foundation for European Progressive Studies Das Progressive Zentrum. Brussels / Berlin September – December 2017, ISBN 978-3-00-058825-9, https://www.progressives-zentrum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Future-of-the-Visegrad-Group_2018_ebook.pdf .
2. FAWN, R. (2024). Castle on a Hill: The Visegrad Group, Regionalism, and the Remaking of Europe. Georgetown University Press, 2. 12. 2024 – 352. ISBN: 9781647125073.
Syllabus
1. Establishment and Development of V4 Cooperation. 2. Economic and Political Position of V4 Countries within the EU. 3. Business Environment in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 4. Business Environment in Poland and Hungary. 5. Foreign Trade of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 6. Foreign Trade of Poland and Hungary. 7. Energy Sector in the V4. 8. Trade of V4 with Selected Regions (Western Balkans). 9. Trade of V4 with Selected Regions (MENA). 10. Trade of V4 with Selected Regions (Turkey). 11. Foreign Direct Investments (Inflows and Outflows) in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 12. Foreign Direct Investments (Inflows and Outflows) in Hungary and Poland. 13. Investment Support in V4 Countries.
Requirements to complete the course
20 % active participation;
20 % case studies and assignments and results presentation;
60 % final exam.
Student workload
Total: 78 hours
Separate study load for individual educational activities:
Attendance at seminars: 26 hours
Preparation for seminars: 12 hours
Essay: 15 hours
Preparation for the final exam: 25 hours
Language whose command is required to complete the course
Slovak, English
Date of approval: 10.03.2025
Date of the latest change: 28.12.2025

